Need to know if transmission has to be removed to perform driveshaft swap.

I have long tubes and need to know if my tranny needs to be removed in order to do a driveshaft swap. I have a FRPP aluminum and need to put it in. Thanks.

Can't say I've ever swapped a DS on a Cobra, but on other vehicles all I did was pop the universal joint apart, drop the DS down and slide her out.

U.M.

I thought Cobras came with aluminum d/s?

Anyways, I seriously doubt you have to do anything more than UM said to change it.

I think '03 was the first year that came with a factory aluminum DS? Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

U.M.

4 bolts on the rear of the shaft. easy as pie.96-98 are not aluminum.

thanks for the quick responses. yeah the early 4v cobras had the vibe-shaft. i am not mechanically inclined at all, is this something i could do with standard tools and jackstands in my driveway?

its a snap as long as the bolts arnt rusty. soak them with some oil for a while first. and have a rag close by cause the tail shaft on the trans will leak.basic tools will work fine.

spray em with PB Blaster a day before working on them. theyll slip right out.

I think 03 was the first year for stock aluminum d/s

My 99 has a huge stock steel driveshaft (for about another 12 hours). She's getting an aluminum d/s tomorrow!

The '99 and '01 Cobra's have a vibration problem that I just explained in this thread.

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=671390

In short, Ford fixed the problem by using driveshaft imbalance to offset pinion flange runnout. If you put in a well-balanced drive shaft, you could end up with a vibration, because it no longer offsets the pinion runnout.

Good luck.

Jeff

That's all fine and dandy, but all the poster asked was whether his transmission needed to be removed in order to perform the swap. We all know about the vibration problems on IRS equipped Cobra's... hell I had to have my whole DS & IRS replaced and I still have a vibration at 80+ MPH.

U.M.